Thread-protector



(No Model.)

' E. J. COLBY.

v THREAD PROTEGTOR.

Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. COLBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

- TH READ-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,636, dated April 2, 1889.

Application filed February 1, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. COLBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Thread- Protector, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to devices for protect ing thread, yarns, and the like, particularly when in use; and has for its object to provide a convenient receptacle for holding the same. This object I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a View of the protector wit-h the upper portion turned. back, so as to show the interior of both portions. Fig. 2 is a sectional view.

Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the drawings.

A is a lid or upper portion of a sphere, hinged at B to the lower portion, 0.

D is a chain secured to either portion or to the hinge: E is a catch upon said chain to be attached to the person and used for the purpose of suspending the protector.

F is a transverse rod hinged at the point G to one side of one portion of the sphere, and secured at its other end in a spring-catch, H, which is curved vertically on its inner side at Itepermit the rod to slide downwardly, and is perforated to admit the end of the rod F.-

J is a spring-catch on the outside of the portion 0 of the sphere and adapted to receive and retain the turned edge K of the portion A.

L is a ball of twine on the bar F. M is a thread of twine running therefrom, and N is an aperture in the portion 0, through which the same is carried off.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: The two portions of the sphere or Serial No. 262,689. (No model.)

'of them. The other end of the transverse rod is caught in the hole in the inner spring, attached to the opposite side of the portion of the sphere to which the rod is hinged. The material to be usedas, for instance, a ball of thread or twine or zephyris placed upon the rod, and the rod is withdrawn, so as to permit of the placing the thread thereon by pressing that portion of the sphere to which the rod is hinged, as shown in dotted lines. The rod with the twine or thread thereon is now restored to its posit-ion. The end of the cord is then taken through the aperture in the sphere and the twoportions of the sphere brought together in such manner as to look, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus the cord, thread, Zephyr, or similar substance is protected within the sphere, and the sphere can be carried at the side or may be allowed to roll upon the floor. Of course the shape and size of the receptacle proper may be greatly varied; but I consider a spherical form as the best.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by means of Letters Patent, is as follows:

A thread-protector consisting of two hemispheres of spring sheet metal hinged together, a spindle hinged to one of them, a catch for the free end of such spindle, into which it is received by compressing the sides of and thus enlarging the hemisphere to which the spindle is pivoted, a spring-catch, whereby the two hemisperes are locked together opposite their hinge, and a suspending-chain attached to one of the hemispheres, substantially as shown.

EDWARD J. COLBY. 

